Circuit arrangement for starting and feeding a gas and/or vapor discharge lamp

Abstract

The invention relates to a relay starter for a discharge lamp wherein the lamp is stabilized by a series arrangement of at least an inductor and a capacitance. Also included in series with these stabilization elements and the lamp is an energizing winding of a relay having a normally-closed contact disposed in a circuit which shunts the lamp. A diode is also disposed in the circuit which shunts the lamp, so that if the lamp does not ignite, current flows for a short period of time through the diode which thereby charges the capacitor. When this capacitor has received a sufficient charge no further current flows either in the lamp circuit or in the shunting circuit so that the entire circuit is put out of operation.

I claim: 
     
       1. A circuit arrangement for starting and feeding a gas and/or vapour discharge lamp provided with two electrodes, the circuit arrangement comprising two input terminals intended for connection to an a.c. voltage source, the input terminals being interconnected by a series arrangement of at least an electric coil, a capacitor, an energizing winding of a relay and the lamp, the lamp being shunted by a starting auxiliary circuit comprising a normally-closed contact of the relay and a rectifier connected in series with the relay contact. 
     
     
       2. A circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said series arrangement further comprises a transformer designed to operate in the saturated state at the value of the normal operating current of the discharge lamp.